INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a controversial bill into law this week that critics argue will lead to the loss of more wetlands across Indiana by reducing the number of wetlands that are eligible to receive the state’s highest-ranking and most protections.
Wetlands around the state have been ranked according to three separate tiers due to the Senate Enrolled Act 389, which came into effect in 2021. At the time, the law removed protections for an entire class of smaller wetlands and removed protections for some other wetlands that are considered rare.
Holcomb signed House Enrolled Act 1383 on Monday, which lowers the number of wetlands that are eligible to receive full protection as Class III — the group that receives the most protections — and can be moved to Class II for development purposes.
Those include Class III, which receives full protection. Wetlands included in Class II receive less protection while Class I wetlands receive no form of protection.
The law also mandates the creation of a task force to employ a more comprehensive study of the debated issues behind the bill.